Mail-box signal



Nov. 29, 1927.

J. B. MASERANG MAIL Box SIGNAL Filed Feb. 16.*192'7 Patented Nov. 29, 1927..

STT

Partnr MAIL-BOX SIGNAL.

Application filed February 16, 1927. Serial No. 168,784.

'lhis invention relates to new and useful improvements in mail boxes, and particularly to' signals therefor.

One object of the invention is to provide a signal, which is adapted to be operated -into and out of signaling position by the v postlnan, and which will be visible from the road, or from the home ofthe owner.

Another object is-to provide a main signal, for indicating to the owner the presence of mail in the box, and supplemental signal means, for indicating to the `postman the presence of mail. in the box, to be collected.

Another object is to associate the main and lsupplementalsignals so that, when the main signal is moved into or out of signaling position, and the supplemental signal is in signaling position, such sup lemental signal will be moved to non-signa ing position, without separate manual operation.

@ther objects andadvantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mail box, showing, in full lines, the main signal in elevated position, and the supplemental signal in non-signaling position, and showing, in dotted lines, the main signal in nonsignaling position, and the supplemental signal in signaling position. 4

Figure 2 is a sectional detail view showing the supplemental signal in elevation.

Figure 3 is a vert-ical sectional detail view, taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawing, represents a mail box of the type in general use in rural districts.

Secured to opposite sides of the box, at

a suitable distance rearwardly of the door.

11, are the vertical supports 12, and pivotally mounted on one of the supports is a lever 13, and on the other support there is pivotally mounted an angle lever 14. Secured to and extending between the levers is a metal plate 15, the ends of which extend in parallel relation to each other, longitudinally of the box, when this main signal is in elevated position, said plate servin to give'a clear view thereof from the roa as well as from the home of the owner, which latter may be located at a considerable distanceA from the road. Pivotally connected to the other arm of the angle lever 14, is an end of a horizontal operating link 15', said link extending beyond the door, when the main signal is in lowered, or -nonsignaling position. VSecured to the side of the box, a short distance rearwardly of the door 11, is a vertical guide bracket 16, in which the forward end portion of the operating vlink is slidably disposed, a transverse pin 17 being disposed in the lower portion of the bracket for interchangeable engagement in the notches 18, in the lower edge of said link, and whereby to hold said link in its adjusted positions. On `the side of the box, in rear of the brscket 16, is a verticall .channeled member 19. Pivotally mounte on the operating link 15 is the arm 20, of the supplemental signal 2-1, said arm being provided with a laterally' extending tab 2:2 which is adapted to engage with the upper edge of the link, to prevent said arm falling too far. when dropping into non-signaling position, and whereby said supplemental sig nal arm will be associated with the link 15 in such manner that said arm will be moved therewith. The portion of the arm 20, inwardly of the pivot thereof, is adapted to be engaged in the channel of the member 19, whereby to hold said arm` in a vertical signaling position. Secured tothe outer end of the arm is a right-angularly bent metal plate 21, which `serves as a ag to be seen from the road, as well as from the home of the owner of the box, and is for the purpose of indicating to thek postman, that there is mail in the box to be collected.

When the main signal is in non-signaling position, lthe link 15 is in its forwardly ro' jected position, with the in 17 engage in the rearmost notch of sai link, whereby to maintain the main signal against being blown out of its position, by the wind. Also, this serves to maintain the arm 20 properly engaged in the channeled member 19, to hold the signal in elevated position. When it is desired to elevate the main signal, the postman grasps the forward end of the link 15',

raises the link in the guide bracket, and then pushes the linkrearwardly, with the result that the levers 13 and 111 will be swung into Vvertical position, displaying the signal plate 15 to view from the' road and from the owners house. When the owner has mail to be dispatched, he places` the mail in the box, lifts the link 15,', and then swings the arm 20 until its lower end enters the upper end of the channel of the member 19, whereupon he permits the link to fall into its former position, causing the said end of the arm 20 to properly enter the channel, and remain in elevated signaling position. The pin 17 is properly engaged in the foremost of the notches of the link, whereby said link is maintained against accidental movement which would alter the position of the main signal.

What is claimed is:

l. A signaling device comprising a support, a main signal on the support, means for operating the signal into and out of signaling position, a supplemental signal carried and movable with the operating means, and means on the support for holding the supplemental signal in signaling position when the main signal is in nonsignaling position, and for releasing the former when the latter is moved into signaling position.

2. A signaling device comprising a support, a main signal on the supporta link connected with said signal for operating the same into and out of signaling position, a supplemental signal movably carried by the link, and'means on` the support for engagement with the supplemental signal to hold the same in signaling position only when the main signal is in non-signaling position, said supplemental signal being releasable from said holding means, upon actuation of said link to move the main signal into signaling position.

3. A signaling device comprising a main signal, a link pivotally connected therewith for moving the signal into and out of signaling position, a supplemental signal pivotally carried by the link, means for engaging the supplemental signal to hold the same in signaling position when the main signal is in non-signaling position, and means for guiding the link, said link being adapted to be moved pivotally torelease the supplemental signal fi'oin the holding means.

4. A signaling device comprising a support, a main signal pivotally mounted on the support, a link pivotally connected with the signal and movable slidably to raise and lower the signal, a guide receiving lthe link therethrough, means on the guide for lmiting the movement of the link in both directions, a vertical channel member adjacent the guide, and a supplemental signal pivotally carried by the link and arranged to engage an end in the channel member when the link is moved to main signal lowered position, said supplemental signal being adapted to gravitate into non-signaling osition upon upward pivotal movement o the link, and means on the supplemental signal for engagement with the link to limit the pivotal movement of the former.

In testimony whereof, I affix m signature.

JOHN B. MAS RANG. 

